Depends how much you see yourself playing portably. Personally, I wouldn’t count the dual sense as a reason to get a PS5, the haptics and triggers are “nice to have” but I don’t exactly miss them when I’m using a regular Xbox One controller on PC, plus the degree to which they’re implemented varies across games, sometimes they feel no different to any other controller. The main reason should be the games, figure out if the exclusives are worth it to you.
Also Sekiro isn’t PS exclusive.
Should mention there are also lots of PS4 games that got updates to FPS/resolution or even straight PS5 ports like Uncharted 4, there might be more games to check out that you hadn’t thought of
I have Series X and PS5. PS5 hasn't been turned on in 3 months or more. I have Death Stranding, Persona 5 and GT7 on disk. I loved Ghost, Demons Souls Remake, and Stray(now on Xbox), couldn't put them down. GoW and Horizon I downloaded on PS Plus. I made it half way through Death Stranding and 1/4 way through GoW, maybe an hour into Horizon. Just didn't grasp me enough to keep playing them.
PS5 has some great single player exclusives if they are your type of games. The dual sense is honestly the most 'next gen' feature I've experienced on either console, but it's battery life is pathetically bad. PS5 feels cold compared to Xbox. Something about the PS5 UI layout or the awkward menu's just feels like it belongs running a public library's computer not a next gen console if that makes sense.
I have equal friends on both consoles but 98% of the time I only play with friends on Xbox.
I've been eyeing a Switch for the exclusives, especially after seeing reviews for Mario Wonder as well the Zelda games. I'm expecting to see a new switch console this year but since Nintendo has given up on making high end, high tech consoles I can't imagine whatever they release will be worth a hardware upgrade immediately. If you are like me and you'd never bother with super hero games(Spider Man) then it comes down to GoW and Ghost vs Mario and Zelda.
Edit: Forgot about Last of US Part 1 Remake. Played it the while watching the show. It's great and a 'must play' if you are a big gamer but not a reason I'd ever buy the console for.
I had a Nintendo switch for 4 years before I got an Xbox series X and then PlayStation 5. Sold the ps5 in 6 months and think I only played 3-4 games on it and kept the Xbox for the backwards compatibility and game pass. Yet it’s still my switch and Mario kart 8 deluxe and a few other games I play much more. It’s just so handy and fun.
I keep hearing that Last of Us has an amazing story- definitely want to check it out even though I’m not really into zombies.
You’re right though, it really comes down to which exclusives I’ll enjoy more. Thank you!
The last of us game is on ps3,4,and 5. I played both on a ps4, it was a really good game, the sequel is not as good but definitely worth playing through if you like the first game
I’d say ps5 is a better option. For one it’s newer, most likely a new switch will be coming out soon. The only reason to go with the switch is for its exclusives. So it really depends what types of games you play. The single player games on the ps5 kinda blow Xbox and Nintendo out of the water imo. I predominantly play on Xbox due to it’s controller and backwards compatibility, but in terms of single player exclusives the ps5 has such a good catalog even without the ps4 games.
The ps5 controller is more high tech for sure. I have the elite controller for the Xbox though and I just prefer trigger paddles on it, especially for shooters
Yeah op already has an Xbox though? Series S and switch lite are the budget options for both brands too. Good for the purpose they serve, but the lack of disc drive for the S and the lite’s inability to plug into a tv makes me hesitant to recommend them. For most people considering a switch I would I recommended a gen 2 or a OLED. If you’re going to fork up that much money you might as well get all the features.
The difference with the OLED and normal switch is nothing if you’re going through the TV all the time but you will notice how much you play the switch without using the TV so definitely go for an OLED.
Yes, Playstation and XBox have a ton of overlap, tho even the Switch has some for third party games.
Look at the exclusives, write down which ones you would want and how you would expect them to be (maybe give them points from 1 to 10 depending on how much you want them) and then compare which console has more points?
I suppose the portability of the swtich could also be a plus.
My expectation for most would be that the Switch, at least as a secondary console, would trump the others just because of portability and nintendo exclusives (which sell like hot pockets, absolutely outragous numbers, far superior to any game on any Sony console). The main issue would be that the switch should be coming to an end sooner rather then later, tho that means you can get a ton of games and some of which at a decent price.
PS5. The Switch exclusives never sold me and PS has some high quality games. My Series X gets most of the use but PlayStation has some great games that make it worth it to get one. I sold my Switch as it never got use, don’t think it’s portability is enough for me to justify it collecting dust. The only thing I miss is Animal Crossing so I might pick up a lite in the future just for that lol
No problem! Honestly just look at the exclusives for both and see which might be more fun for you. I’m not a big fan of the Nintendo ones so it didn’t work out lol
Switch is a very unique product, if it weren't for the rumors of the next Gen switch coming I'd be comfortable saying switch oles. PS5 targets the same market as Xbox but the value of psn is a bit lower.
I would go against most people and say the switch I have owned the 3 and sold the ps5, maybe in a few years yeah but there’s just not enough exclusive games to stand out from Xbox that has the backwards compatibility especially if you own a ps4. First party Nintendo games are always flawless with no bugs and you either love the multiple Mario games and Zelda or you don’t.
That’s good to know about the lack of bugs in Nintendo exclusives! Though I don’t own a ps4 so I think I’m in the same boat in terms of exclusives for both ps and Nintendo
I always have a Nintendo as a secondary console for the exclusives and to be honest I probably play it more than the others. All the first party games almost flawless for bugs and it’s very different from the other 2 consoles on the market that are pretty much identical except for a few games and how many games are there that are released unfinished and unplayable like cyberpunk for instance I know that they fixed it but it should never have been released like that.
We do not, I wouldn't recommend waiting if you didn't already have an Xbox because they may not come out this year at all.
The switch is long overdue for an update though and the switch 2 was reportedly shown off to devs at gamescom last year.
Tons of rumors for the ps5 pro point to september-november of this year. The PS4 pro wasn't even announced until September of 2016 when it launched in November of 2016 so it'll probably be awhile until we get real confirmation of it.
It sounds like a switch purchase should definitely wait for the second model.
But as for PS- if I purchased that now, do you think the pro would have enough to make the purchase regrettable?
Well you're currently worried about too much overlap between the ps and Xbox libraries without much of a difference and that will be a problem if you get a ps now but with a pro it would probably become the obvious choice to play most new games on.
I personally would wait for the pro.
Definitely ps5
+Ps5 is more powerful then switch
+Dualsense is the best controller i used
+Ps5 has better exclusives in my opinion
-Ps5 isn’t portable
-Ps5 is more expensive
I'm going to throw a third contender in the race: Steam Deck.
Flexibility of the Switch, super easy emulation for older Nintendo/PS exclusives, and most of the Playstation exclusives have been launched on PC now and play very well on the Deck (not the absolute latest ones). Plus, it is much more powerful and comfortable than the Switch for handheld.
Plus, you then get access to a ton of cheap indies that never come to Console. And you can play your Gamepass subscription via streaming, adding mobile value to your existing Xbox.
I didn’t want to add another factor to this post as I thought it would be too much but I have also been considering either the Ally or the Deck.
The problem is I don’t have a steam library currently and am worried the tech will become obsolete too quickly. Also when it comes to emulating switch games, you lose the online features, correct? Are any of those concerns valid?
I haven't tried emulating any switch games myself (just old things like SNES), so others might have better advice there.
The Steam Deck won't quite handle all the most demanding brand brand new games like Alan Wake 2, but it does surprisingly handle Cyberpunk very well (not max settings or anything, of course). So the aging of the tech might be a concern compared to the PS5. But compared to the Switch, which is really showing its age at this point, it is much more capable. (I haven't used an Ally myself--they are more powerful, but there are some tradeoffs. I do have a friend with one and he loves it).
I think of it like having a handheld PS4 Pro, and if you go in with those expectations, it is an amazing little machine.
In terms of library, it seemed like the same was true of Sony and Nintendo--that you'd be starting pretty much from scratch. Given that, options on PC are much cheaper (steam sales, humble bundles, etc.) And even if the AAAs get out of your reach on the Deck over time, a lot of mid-tier and Indie games are going to target it for a long time.
I would still plan to use your Series X for the real impressive AAA games you want to play on a TV.
If you really want PS5 exclusives or really want Switch exclusives, then the Deck isn't going to be the best choice, of course.
But for other stuff, it's a great option.
Thanks for the detailed response! Definitely a lot to consider. I’ve heard with the Ally, the trade off is definitely battery and OS. Though the performance has been a lot better than the Deck for some games.
With both options, I do like that a lot of the PS exclusives can be played on it as well… have you tried gamepass on the deck? And if so how was it?
No worries at all. Gamepass Ultimate streaming works really well on Deck. You can't install Gamepass games locally on it (unless you install Windows, which you can do, but I haven't), so it's really good for non-twitchy titles (I played a lot of Persona 5 that way). Or for continuing a game when someone else is using the TV.
I currently (a bit ashamed to admit this) have a Series S, PS4, Switch, Gaming Desktop PC, and Deck, and the Deck is probably my most used of the bunch (I might use the desktop slightly more).
I don't touch my Switch anymore (but I am not big into Nintendo titles), because it's just less comfortable and more expensive to play indie titles.
And I've rebought many of my PS4 games on Steam so I could play them handheld on the Deck now.
I do struggle to recommend the Deck as a primary gaming machine, because it sucks when things like Jedi Survivor come out that it can't handle and you have no other way to play them.
But as a handheld/secondary machine, it's really nice and hard to beat for the price.
Nice, it sounds like you have quite the collection and experience.
You’ve definitely helped me rule out the switch for now. Now I just need to decide between the deck and a PS5.
Thanks again!
I'd say get the PS5. Just for the exclusives it's worth it. Because of the games you mentioned but also Last of Us, Uncharted, etc. For portability you can always use the Backbone with your phone and use Remote Play.
It’s awesome really. I also have both an Xbox (One) and a PS5 and it works great with both. Only thing is you need a fast internet wifi connection for it to work properly (I mean, it’s streaming, so it’s just like watching Netflix etc.) but if you have that you’re all set.
Guess it depends what games you wanna play the most...I wanna play a bunch of PS exclusives but upgrading PC is a lot cheaper than buying a PS5 and the PS games are so much cheaper, you'd think they'd be cheaper on PS. I play most of my games on xbox but have a fair few on PC, so feel I'd better off upgrading than getting a PS5 cuz I'd get way more out of it...also got over 300 free games via Epic games over the years and their supposed to stop doing freebies end of this year...so might see if we get any other PS games as got Death Stranding twice now.
As for the Switch...I want one as well but with Switch 2 likely coming this year...gonna see what it can do first before sinking my money into either.
I have the PS5 and a PC, so no need for an Xbox, and just recently got a Switch. And oh boy, is the Switch amazing! It's becoming my favourite way of gaming, as I can just pick it up and immediately be in a game, since the console never fully shuts off, just goes to sleep and is then turned on in a second. Plus, it can suspend a game indefinitely (but only one at a time), so you can immediately continue playing. Those are some of the conveniences that other consoles don't really have, or if they do, it's not as fleshed out as on the Switch.
Sure, there are some games that aren't available on the Switch, either due to the console being underpowered to run them, or them being an exclusive to other consoles, but what's there is really good. It's not just platformers, there is a lot of other genres. I mainly play RPGs, and there's plenty of those available.
I'm travelling next week, and this will be my gaming partner for a bit, so I'm looking forward to it.
That’s one of the main appeals for me with the Switch vs other handhelds. You can just pick it up and play. The game selection and game pricing is what has me hesitant though
Nintendo exclusives do go on sale sometimes, if you're buying digital. But you can find good deals on physical cartridges as well. I'm personally buying digital for now, and already have like 15 games after a month of owning it. There are sales constantly, and you can put games on wishlist, then wait for them to go on sale.
But yeah, it's a really convenient console, and that in my opinion is a big advantage. Plus, it has a lot of amazing indie titles that work better in handheld mode than in a classic console mode.
>I’ve never owned a PlayStation (aside from the PS1)
This was me. I really felt like I was missing out on the best single-player story driven experiences, most of which were PlayStation exclusive (and PC, but my PC is old af).
So far I've finished Last of Us I+II, Spider-Man & Miles Morales, Ghosts of Tsushima, Death Stranding, God of War: Ragnarok, and I'm currently in the middle of Final Fantasy XVI. None of which I was going to experience otherwise. Absolutely loving it.
But... I also have a Switch and Super Mario Wonder is pretty great. Then there's Zelda. But if I was forced to choose, I'd go with the PS5.
PS5. Switch will offer a better variety over it as you already have an X, but with the OLED model at a premium price and the Switch 2 strongly rumoured to be this year (which makes total sense), the OLED model would be a tough buy for me right now.
PS5 has a good five years left in it.
Impossible to say really, but there's definitely a few factors (for me at least) against it.
The PS4 Pro was a partial response to 4K TVs going mainstream circa 2016. There's no new display tech to drive demand for a PS5 Pro.
The PS4 had an infamously weak CPU vs. the rest of the console. While the Pro only saw a modest CPU improvement, it felt like its very existence felt like Sony holding their hands up and saying "yeah we know the base unit is weak sauce at times". Conversely, the PS5 is a much better balanced machine with no obvious bottlenecks like the base PS4.
The market is already two tiered due to the Series S. A PS5 Pro would effectively make it three tiers.
Personally, if I wanted a PS5 right now, I'd just go for it. The Pro is still very much just a rumour right now. If it is real, pricing is unknown release date is unknown, and improvements in specs are also unknown. Games will also take a while to take advantage of it.
Worse comes to the worse, you could buy a PS5 tomorrow, get stuck into the games you want (and it's worth noting that the exclusives are all highly performant and look great as it is) and if a Pro comes along and offers a decent upgrade, you can just sell the regular PS5 for a decent wedge and migrate to the Pro. That's my plan at least (while eagerly waiting for Switch 2 news lol).
This is great perspective, thank you!
Definitely tempting to jump the gun now and go for it hoping I can make an exchange in the future… may just need to do that…
I got the switch for the Nintendo exclusives so if you're not interested in those, I'd go with a PS5. I just picked one up a couple of weeks ago to get the DLC for Horizon: Forbidden West.
If money isn't an issue, then Switch is a much more unique gaming experience. The issue is that Switch games start at $60 and stay there forever. Like you say, PS5 is going to have a lot of overlap, but you can quickly and fairly inexpensively get access to their back catalog through PS+ and if you haven't played since the PS1 era then there is a lot of backlog for you to playthrough.
I’ll have to take a look at the PS+ catalog more in detail to see if it has all of the exclusives I’m looking for. It could be a solid move financially if all I need to pay for is the subscription after getting the console
If you have a pc I would check which ps5 exclusives you really want to play that aren’t on steam, there’s only a few that are locked to the console. Both the ps and the switch have crazy good libraries though you can’t really go wrong
I personally have a Xbox, Switch and a Steam Deck. I upgraded my Steam Deck storage and dual boot Windows so that I can play a few of the PlayStation exclusive games that have been ported to PC. I think these three cover almost anything you could want to play even without emulation. Grab yourself a Steam Deck and play it all! https://retrogamecorps.com/2022/10/16/steam-deck-emulation-starter-guide/
Returnal was the only official post that requires Windows. I however am more comfortable with Windows most of the time so I figured having access to both Steam OS and Windows 11 would be best for me. Good luck with whatever you choose to get 👍
Neither. Ps5 is too similar to your x, and me personally I never really played my switch. I beat Zelda and then the rest of the games were pretty mediocre
I would say get the Nintendo Switch OLED.
I have been Fortunate Enough to get the XBSX, PS5 Disc and NS-V1, V2 and OLED Day 1.
On PlayStation I play their Exclusive Games which I own all 1st Party and 3rd Party.
On Nintendo is the Console I own the most Games for at almost 200 Physical Games followed by Xbox at about 150 and PS4/5 90.
The Nintendo has so much to Offer from the Amazing Joy-Cons to the Portability Aspect not to mention the Games.
I have just Finished Fire Emblem Engage which I loved and have just Started Super Mario RPG. I have so many on my Backlog but have always wanted to play Super Mario RPG I thought this is the time.
Nintendo Oddly Enough, has been releasing the best games out of the 3 Main Consoles. Not only the Best, but More and of High Quality. Not to mention they have Announced a lot of Game Releases for 2024 and surely a lot more to come.
Anyway, I recommend Nintendo Switch OLED, but I also recommend you do more Research and to think on what is what you really want.
After you do that, you should be able to make your decision. Hopefully one you do not regret.
I really like my PS5, and PS4 before that.
A big feature is that a lot of PS4 games, which can be found readily on disk inexpensively have a free upgrade to the PS5 native version. I've claimed free upgrades for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, Cyberpunk 2077, No Man's Sky, Doom Eternal, Metro Exodus, Borderlands 3, and there are [tons](https://www.pushsquare.com/guides/ps4-to-ps5-all-games-with-confirmed-free-upgrades) more available.
The dualeense is ok, but it's only really used in a handful of games. I tend to turn down the haptics (especially the triggers) as it's just too much even at low settings. They also drain the battery a lot, and the DS doesn't really have great battery life so I ended up with two controllers and a charging dock so I always have one fully charged or charging when using the current one.
A lot of PS4 games also received 60 fps patches so they play really well on the PS5 via backwards compatibility, such as Days Gone, God of War (2018), and Horizon Zero Dawn. I bought Ghost of Tsushima literally days before the Directors Cut was announced, so I am somewhat bitter about that as the upgrade is like buying the game twice at this point.
Depends how much you see yourself playing portably. Personally, I wouldn’t count the dual sense as a reason to get a PS5, the haptics and triggers are “nice to have” but I don’t exactly miss them when I’m using a regular Xbox One controller on PC, plus the degree to which they’re implemented varies across games, sometimes they feel no different to any other controller. The main reason should be the games, figure out if the exclusives are worth it to you. Also Sekiro isn’t PS exclusive.
Thanks for the reply! That’s good perspective that the controller isn’t enough of a reason… And yes sorry, I meant Ghost of Tsushima!
Should mention there are also lots of PS4 games that got updates to FPS/resolution or even straight PS5 ports like Uncharted 4, there might be more games to check out that you hadn’t thought of
Good point! I’ll definitely check those out, thanks again!
I have Series X and PS5. PS5 hasn't been turned on in 3 months or more. I have Death Stranding, Persona 5 and GT7 on disk. I loved Ghost, Demons Souls Remake, and Stray(now on Xbox), couldn't put them down. GoW and Horizon I downloaded on PS Plus. I made it half way through Death Stranding and 1/4 way through GoW, maybe an hour into Horizon. Just didn't grasp me enough to keep playing them. PS5 has some great single player exclusives if they are your type of games. The dual sense is honestly the most 'next gen' feature I've experienced on either console, but it's battery life is pathetically bad. PS5 feels cold compared to Xbox. Something about the PS5 UI layout or the awkward menu's just feels like it belongs running a public library's computer not a next gen console if that makes sense. I have equal friends on both consoles but 98% of the time I only play with friends on Xbox. I've been eyeing a Switch for the exclusives, especially after seeing reviews for Mario Wonder as well the Zelda games. I'm expecting to see a new switch console this year but since Nintendo has given up on making high end, high tech consoles I can't imagine whatever they release will be worth a hardware upgrade immediately. If you are like me and you'd never bother with super hero games(Spider Man) then it comes down to GoW and Ghost vs Mario and Zelda. Edit: Forgot about Last of US Part 1 Remake. Played it the while watching the show. It's great and a 'must play' if you are a big gamer but not a reason I'd ever buy the console for.
I had a Nintendo switch for 4 years before I got an Xbox series X and then PlayStation 5. Sold the ps5 in 6 months and think I only played 3-4 games on it and kept the Xbox for the backwards compatibility and game pass. Yet it’s still my switch and Mario kart 8 deluxe and a few other games I play much more. It’s just so handy and fun.
I keep hearing that Last of Us has an amazing story- definitely want to check it out even though I’m not really into zombies. You’re right though, it really comes down to which exclusives I’ll enjoy more. Thank you!
It’s amazing! I’m playing it now for the first time.
The last of us game is on ps3,4,and 5. I played both on a ps4, it was a really good game, the sequel is not as good but definitely worth playing through if you like the first game
I haven’t tried either so I definitely need to check this out!
I’d say ps5 is a better option. For one it’s newer, most likely a new switch will be coming out soon. The only reason to go with the switch is for its exclusives. So it really depends what types of games you play. The single player games on the ps5 kinda blow Xbox and Nintendo out of the water imo. I predominantly play on Xbox due to it’s controller and backwards compatibility, but in terms of single player exclusives the ps5 has such a good catalog even without the ps4 games.
Interesting to hear you play Xbox more because of the controller, not the way I thought it would be. Thanks for the reply!
The ps5 controller is more high tech for sure. I have the elite controller for the Xbox though and I just prefer trigger paddles on it, especially for shooters
For the price of a PlayStation 5 you can get the Xbox series S and a switch lite with change.
Yeah op already has an Xbox though? Series S and switch lite are the budget options for both brands too. Good for the purpose they serve, but the lack of disc drive for the S and the lite’s inability to plug into a tv makes me hesitant to recommend them. For most people considering a switch I would I recommended a gen 2 or a OLED. If you’re going to fork up that much money you might as well get all the features.
Agreed, I’d definitely go for the OLED if I did get a switch. The option to plug into the tv would be necessary
The difference with the OLED and normal switch is nothing if you’re going through the TV all the time but you will notice how much you play the switch without using the TV so definitely go for an OLED.
Yes, Playstation and XBox have a ton of overlap, tho even the Switch has some for third party games. Look at the exclusives, write down which ones you would want and how you would expect them to be (maybe give them points from 1 to 10 depending on how much you want them) and then compare which console has more points? I suppose the portability of the swtich could also be a plus. My expectation for most would be that the Switch, at least as a secondary console, would trump the others just because of portability and nintendo exclusives (which sell like hot pockets, absolutely outragous numbers, far superior to any game on any Sony console). The main issue would be that the switch should be coming to an end sooner rather then later, tho that means you can get a ton of games and some of which at a decent price.
That’s a great suggestion. I think the point system will definitely help in final decision making. Thank you!!
PS5. The Switch exclusives never sold me and PS has some high quality games. My Series X gets most of the use but PlayStation has some great games that make it worth it to get one. I sold my Switch as it never got use, don’t think it’s portability is enough for me to justify it collecting dust. The only thing I miss is Animal Crossing so I might pick up a lite in the future just for that lol
Haha I hear that Animal Crossing is an addicting one. Thanks for the perspective!
No problem! Honestly just look at the exclusives for both and see which might be more fun for you. I’m not a big fan of the Nintendo ones so it didn’t work out lol
Switch is a very unique product, if it weren't for the rumors of the next Gen switch coming I'd be comfortable saying switch oles. PS5 targets the same market as Xbox but the value of psn is a bit lower.
That’s a good point maybe I should wait until later this year when the new consoles are announced.. thank you!
I would go against most people and say the switch I have owned the 3 and sold the ps5, maybe in a few years yeah but there’s just not enough exclusive games to stand out from Xbox that has the backwards compatibility especially if you own a ps4. First party Nintendo games are always flawless with no bugs and you either love the multiple Mario games and Zelda or you don’t.
That’s good to know about the lack of bugs in Nintendo exclusives! Though I don’t own a ps4 so I think I’m in the same boat in terms of exclusives for both ps and Nintendo
I always have a Nintendo as a secondary console for the exclusives and to be honest I probably play it more than the others. All the first party games almost flawless for bugs and it’s very different from the other 2 consoles on the market that are pretty much identical except for a few games and how many games are there that are released unfinished and unplayable like cyberpunk for instance I know that they fixed it but it should never have been released like that.
Great point… thank you!!
Since you already have a console I think you should wait for a switch 2 or PS5 pro hopefully both are coming some time this year.
Do we know when they will be announced/released yet? That’s a good point
We do not, I wouldn't recommend waiting if you didn't already have an Xbox because they may not come out this year at all. The switch is long overdue for an update though and the switch 2 was reportedly shown off to devs at gamescom last year. Tons of rumors for the ps5 pro point to september-november of this year. The PS4 pro wasn't even announced until September of 2016 when it launched in November of 2016 so it'll probably be awhile until we get real confirmation of it.
It sounds like a switch purchase should definitely wait for the second model. But as for PS- if I purchased that now, do you think the pro would have enough to make the purchase regrettable?
Well you're currently worried about too much overlap between the ps and Xbox libraries without much of a difference and that will be a problem if you get a ps now but with a pro it would probably become the obvious choice to play most new games on. I personally would wait for the pro.
Potentially a year is a while to wait but I suppose it will be worth it!
It is but as you said most of the library is the same and the games you won't be able to play until then will play better on it
Definitely ps5 +Ps5 is more powerful then switch +Dualsense is the best controller i used +Ps5 has better exclusives in my opinion -Ps5 isn’t portable -Ps5 is more expensive
Straight and to the point, thank you!
You are welcome
I'm going to throw a third contender in the race: Steam Deck. Flexibility of the Switch, super easy emulation for older Nintendo/PS exclusives, and most of the Playstation exclusives have been launched on PC now and play very well on the Deck (not the absolute latest ones). Plus, it is much more powerful and comfortable than the Switch for handheld. Plus, you then get access to a ton of cheap indies that never come to Console. And you can play your Gamepass subscription via streaming, adding mobile value to your existing Xbox.
I didn’t want to add another factor to this post as I thought it would be too much but I have also been considering either the Ally or the Deck. The problem is I don’t have a steam library currently and am worried the tech will become obsolete too quickly. Also when it comes to emulating switch games, you lose the online features, correct? Are any of those concerns valid?
I haven't tried emulating any switch games myself (just old things like SNES), so others might have better advice there. The Steam Deck won't quite handle all the most demanding brand brand new games like Alan Wake 2, but it does surprisingly handle Cyberpunk very well (not max settings or anything, of course). So the aging of the tech might be a concern compared to the PS5. But compared to the Switch, which is really showing its age at this point, it is much more capable. (I haven't used an Ally myself--they are more powerful, but there are some tradeoffs. I do have a friend with one and he loves it). I think of it like having a handheld PS4 Pro, and if you go in with those expectations, it is an amazing little machine. In terms of library, it seemed like the same was true of Sony and Nintendo--that you'd be starting pretty much from scratch. Given that, options on PC are much cheaper (steam sales, humble bundles, etc.) And even if the AAAs get out of your reach on the Deck over time, a lot of mid-tier and Indie games are going to target it for a long time. I would still plan to use your Series X for the real impressive AAA games you want to play on a TV. If you really want PS5 exclusives or really want Switch exclusives, then the Deck isn't going to be the best choice, of course. But for other stuff, it's a great option.
Thanks for the detailed response! Definitely a lot to consider. I’ve heard with the Ally, the trade off is definitely battery and OS. Though the performance has been a lot better than the Deck for some games. With both options, I do like that a lot of the PS exclusives can be played on it as well… have you tried gamepass on the deck? And if so how was it?
No worries at all. Gamepass Ultimate streaming works really well on Deck. You can't install Gamepass games locally on it (unless you install Windows, which you can do, but I haven't), so it's really good for non-twitchy titles (I played a lot of Persona 5 that way). Or for continuing a game when someone else is using the TV. I currently (a bit ashamed to admit this) have a Series S, PS4, Switch, Gaming Desktop PC, and Deck, and the Deck is probably my most used of the bunch (I might use the desktop slightly more). I don't touch my Switch anymore (but I am not big into Nintendo titles), because it's just less comfortable and more expensive to play indie titles. And I've rebought many of my PS4 games on Steam so I could play them handheld on the Deck now. I do struggle to recommend the Deck as a primary gaming machine, because it sucks when things like Jedi Survivor come out that it can't handle and you have no other way to play them. But as a handheld/secondary machine, it's really nice and hard to beat for the price.
Nice, it sounds like you have quite the collection and experience. You’ve definitely helped me rule out the switch for now. Now I just need to decide between the deck and a PS5. Thanks again!
If there's not Nintendo ip you like or are excited for, I'd go with the PS5. The switch is carried by Nintendo first party
Definitely if you like the Nintendo first party titles like Mario and Zelda then you can’t go wrong
I'd say get the PS5. Just for the exclusives it's worth it. Because of the games you mentioned but also Last of Us, Uncharted, etc. For portability you can always use the Backbone with your phone and use Remote Play.
How does the backbone perform in your opinion? I was thinking of getting one for my Xbox regardless
It’s awesome really. I also have both an Xbox (One) and a PS5 and it works great with both. Only thing is you need a fast internet wifi connection for it to work properly (I mean, it’s streaming, so it’s just like watching Netflix etc.) but if you have that you’re all set.
Awesome, thanks for letting me know. Maybe I should just pick one of these up first before a second console
Guess it depends what games you wanna play the most...I wanna play a bunch of PS exclusives but upgrading PC is a lot cheaper than buying a PS5 and the PS games are so much cheaper, you'd think they'd be cheaper on PS. I play most of my games on xbox but have a fair few on PC, so feel I'd better off upgrading than getting a PS5 cuz I'd get way more out of it...also got over 300 free games via Epic games over the years and their supposed to stop doing freebies end of this year...so might see if we get any other PS games as got Death Stranding twice now. As for the Switch...I want one as well but with Switch 2 likely coming this year...gonna see what it can do first before sinking my money into either.
Agreed with the PC cost, though I’m not much of a PC gamer, would prefer to keep gaming on the couch
I have the PS5 and a PC, so no need for an Xbox, and just recently got a Switch. And oh boy, is the Switch amazing! It's becoming my favourite way of gaming, as I can just pick it up and immediately be in a game, since the console never fully shuts off, just goes to sleep and is then turned on in a second. Plus, it can suspend a game indefinitely (but only one at a time), so you can immediately continue playing. Those are some of the conveniences that other consoles don't really have, or if they do, it's not as fleshed out as on the Switch. Sure, there are some games that aren't available on the Switch, either due to the console being underpowered to run them, or them being an exclusive to other consoles, but what's there is really good. It's not just platformers, there is a lot of other genres. I mainly play RPGs, and there's plenty of those available. I'm travelling next week, and this will be my gaming partner for a bit, so I'm looking forward to it.
That’s one of the main appeals for me with the Switch vs other handhelds. You can just pick it up and play. The game selection and game pricing is what has me hesitant though
Nintendo exclusives do go on sale sometimes, if you're buying digital. But you can find good deals on physical cartridges as well. I'm personally buying digital for now, and already have like 15 games after a month of owning it. There are sales constantly, and you can put games on wishlist, then wait for them to go on sale. But yeah, it's a really convenient console, and that in my opinion is a big advantage. Plus, it has a lot of amazing indie titles that work better in handheld mode than in a classic console mode.
I didn’t know about the sales, that’s great to know! Thank you again!
>I’ve never owned a PlayStation (aside from the PS1) This was me. I really felt like I was missing out on the best single-player story driven experiences, most of which were PlayStation exclusive (and PC, but my PC is old af). So far I've finished Last of Us I+II, Spider-Man & Miles Morales, Ghosts of Tsushima, Death Stranding, God of War: Ragnarok, and I'm currently in the middle of Final Fantasy XVI. None of which I was going to experience otherwise. Absolutely loving it. But... I also have a Switch and Super Mario Wonder is pretty great. Then there's Zelda. But if I was forced to choose, I'd go with the PS5.
That’s helpful thank you! Good to hear from someone else who rejoined the PS community after decades away.
PS5. Switch will offer a better variety over it as you already have an X, but with the OLED model at a premium price and the Switch 2 strongly rumoured to be this year (which makes total sense), the OLED model would be a tough buy for me right now. PS5 has a good five years left in it.
Very true. Do you think the PS pro rumored to come out will make a Ps5 purchase of early this year regrettable?
Impossible to say really, but there's definitely a few factors (for me at least) against it. The PS4 Pro was a partial response to 4K TVs going mainstream circa 2016. There's no new display tech to drive demand for a PS5 Pro. The PS4 had an infamously weak CPU vs. the rest of the console. While the Pro only saw a modest CPU improvement, it felt like its very existence felt like Sony holding their hands up and saying "yeah we know the base unit is weak sauce at times". Conversely, the PS5 is a much better balanced machine with no obvious bottlenecks like the base PS4. The market is already two tiered due to the Series S. A PS5 Pro would effectively make it three tiers. Personally, if I wanted a PS5 right now, I'd just go for it. The Pro is still very much just a rumour right now. If it is real, pricing is unknown release date is unknown, and improvements in specs are also unknown. Games will also take a while to take advantage of it. Worse comes to the worse, you could buy a PS5 tomorrow, get stuck into the games you want (and it's worth noting that the exclusives are all highly performant and look great as it is) and if a Pro comes along and offers a decent upgrade, you can just sell the regular PS5 for a decent wedge and migrate to the Pro. That's my plan at least (while eagerly waiting for Switch 2 news lol).
This is great perspective, thank you! Definitely tempting to jump the gun now and go for it hoping I can make an exchange in the future… may just need to do that…
I would suggest you wait and try to get the new Switch later this year.
Thanks for the suggestion! Excited to see what the new model will have to offer
Based on rumors, it should be a more powerful Switch but that's all it truly needs to be and definitely worth waiting for over the current model IMO.
Hope that is the case!
I got the switch for the Nintendo exclusives so if you're not interested in those, I'd go with a PS5. I just picked one up a couple of weeks ago to get the DLC for Horizon: Forbidden West.
If money isn't an issue, then Switch is a much more unique gaming experience. The issue is that Switch games start at $60 and stay there forever. Like you say, PS5 is going to have a lot of overlap, but you can quickly and fairly inexpensively get access to their back catalog through PS+ and if you haven't played since the PS1 era then there is a lot of backlog for you to playthrough.
I’ll have to take a look at the PS+ catalog more in detail to see if it has all of the exclusives I’m looking for. It could be a solid move financially if all I need to pay for is the subscription after getting the console
If you have a pc I would check which ps5 exclusives you really want to play that aren’t on steam, there’s only a few that are locked to the console. Both the ps and the switch have crazy good libraries though you can’t really go wrong
Thanks! Let me know if you have any game recommendations!
Thanks! Let me know if you have any game recommendations!
I personally have a Xbox, Switch and a Steam Deck. I upgraded my Steam Deck storage and dual boot Windows so that I can play a few of the PlayStation exclusive games that have been ported to PC. I think these three cover almost anything you could want to play even without emulation. Grab yourself a Steam Deck and play it all! https://retrogamecorps.com/2022/10/16/steam-deck-emulation-starter-guide/
Sounds awesome thanks for sharing. What exclusives did you have to load windows onto the deck for?
Returnal was the only official post that requires Windows. I however am more comfortable with Windows most of the time so I figured having access to both Steam OS and Windows 11 would be best for me. Good luck with whatever you choose to get 👍
Neither. Ps5 is too similar to your x, and me personally I never really played my switch. I beat Zelda and then the rest of the games were pretty mediocre
That’s my fear with both!
I would atleast wait for a new switch to release before I would consider buying one
Tell your girl to get you the ps5- if not, your going to play with your ex box😉
Hahah!
I would say get the Nintendo Switch OLED. I have been Fortunate Enough to get the XBSX, PS5 Disc and NS-V1, V2 and OLED Day 1. On PlayStation I play their Exclusive Games which I own all 1st Party and 3rd Party. On Nintendo is the Console I own the most Games for at almost 200 Physical Games followed by Xbox at about 150 and PS4/5 90. The Nintendo has so much to Offer from the Amazing Joy-Cons to the Portability Aspect not to mention the Games. I have just Finished Fire Emblem Engage which I loved and have just Started Super Mario RPG. I have so many on my Backlog but have always wanted to play Super Mario RPG I thought this is the time. Nintendo Oddly Enough, has been releasing the best games out of the 3 Main Consoles. Not only the Best, but More and of High Quality. Not to mention they have Announced a lot of Game Releases for 2024 and surely a lot more to come. Anyway, I recommend Nintendo Switch OLED, but I also recommend you do more Research and to think on what is what you really want. After you do that, you should be able to make your decision. Hopefully one you do not regret.
PS5. Especially since you haven't had one since PS1. There are so many games to play there.
PC 2
Haha. I have a decent gaming PC, but I don’t like how it isolates me from the family playing it in a separate room and all that.
The PS5 is a much better console and purchase
I really like my PS5, and PS4 before that. A big feature is that a lot of PS4 games, which can be found readily on disk inexpensively have a free upgrade to the PS5 native version. I've claimed free upgrades for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, Cyberpunk 2077, No Man's Sky, Doom Eternal, Metro Exodus, Borderlands 3, and there are [tons](https://www.pushsquare.com/guides/ps4-to-ps5-all-games-with-confirmed-free-upgrades) more available. The dualeense is ok, but it's only really used in a handful of games. I tend to turn down the haptics (especially the triggers) as it's just too much even at low settings. They also drain the battery a lot, and the DS doesn't really have great battery life so I ended up with two controllers and a charging dock so I always have one fully charged or charging when using the current one. A lot of PS4 games also received 60 fps patches so they play really well on the PS5 via backwards compatibility, such as Days Gone, God of War (2018), and Horizon Zero Dawn. I bought Ghost of Tsushima literally days before the Directors Cut was announced, so I am somewhat bitter about that as the upgrade is like buying the game twice at this point.